The birth of Christ, Springfield style

By KURT NESBITT

Journal Staff Writer

SPRINGFIELD -- For some people, nativity scenes are just as much a part of Christmas as egg nog and wrapping presents.

The nativity scene in Springfield's Riverside Park is no exception. During a year where the weather is mild, the crowd can easily fill the bleachers beside Springfield High School's football field, driving in from as far away as Marshall and Rochester just to see the show.

Christmas was first celebrated in the early 300's: the exact date of Jesus' birth is unknown. The Nativity is a Christian term that refers to the story of how Jesus was born; nativity scenes are simply re-enactments of it

Having just finished its 17th year, the show, which is organized by a group called SANTA--Springfield Area Nativity Theater Association -- seeks to give onlookers its own spin on the story of the birth of Jesus.

Each year, kids and grown-ups from each of Springfield's six churches sign up to play a role. Representatives from each church work together to assemble the cast from the pool of signups.

The SANTA nativity also incorporates a rare element for these parts: real, actual animals. For instance, in the part of the Christmas story where the angels appear before the shepherds, the shepherds come on stage leading real sheep. The three wise men enter the picture a little while later on the backs of a pair of camels rented from a farm in Wisconsin.

And yes, Virginia, Mary rides a real donkey.

The production has all the trappings of outdoor theater for people in snowmobile suits. While actors and carefully crafted sets helped tell the story from start to end, the crowd sat shivering with sweatshirt hoods pulled tightly over their faces, jackets zipped or buttoned all the way up and sat close together with old blankets to keep the warmth from escaping.

Each scene is narrated carefully, with the actors simply making motions and gestures to simulate conversations and actions. Everyone who is on the stage is in a period costume, modified slightly by the heavy winter boots worn under their robes.

Some of the scenes were bridged by a choir, which stood in black robes and red knit hats on a riser underneath a shelter off to the right side of the main stage. It sang many of the most recognizable Christmas songs from 'What Child Is This?' to 'Silent Night' to the 'Hallelujah Chorus' from Handel's Messiah.

There were even snowmobiles, which buzzed by quickly during one of the scenes.

When it was over, the actors were rewarded with sound of about 200 hands applauding through heavy mittens.

One young boy announced that he was going to go home and have some hot apple cider with his friends.

Many more of the people who turned out to see the last performance of the year simply rushed to their cars and trucks to get away from the wind.

Another woman, who had brought five children with her from Marshall, said this year's performance was her fifth in a row.

"It makes our Christmas," she said.